Suburb report · QLD 4720
Emerald
Prepared by the property strategists at Chase Wealth Australia
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Population
15,824
Emerald suburb profile
Who lives in Emerald
Emerald is a regional centre 656km from the Brisbane CBD. Emerald is one of the most populous suburbs in Queensland, with 15,824 residents, more than 94% of the state's suburbs. By population it is number 20 of 528 Queensland suburbs and towns more than 40km from the Brisbane CBD. Emerald skews young, with a median age of 33 against 39 for the median Queensland suburb. Of the 528 Queensland suburbs and towns more than 40km from the Brisbane CBD, 40 have a younger median age.
Income and home ownership
Households earn a median $124,600 a year, above the $98,100 of the median Queensland suburb. Among the 528 Queensland suburbs and towns more than 40km from the Brisbane CBD, 64 report a higher median household income. Ownership runs at 55.3%, with 44.7% renting, at the 20th percentile of Queensland suburbs. 441 of the 528 Queensland suburbs and towns more than 40km from the Brisbane CBD have a higher ownership share.
Household mix
At the 2021 Census, 4,950 households lived in Emerald, more than in 93% of Queensland suburbs. The household mix leans to families: families with children 48.3%, couples without children 25.5%, people living alone 22.9% and group households 3.4%. On the share of families with children it ranks 138 of 526 Queensland suburbs and towns more than 40km from the Brisbane CBD. At 48.3%, families with children are more common here than in 64% of Queensland suburbs. Couples without children make up 25.5%, below most Queensland suburbs.
Housing supply
16 new dwellings were approved across the Emerald statistical area in the year to June 2025, 16% under its 2020 to 2024 average of 19 a year. The Emerald statistical area had 15,238 residents in 2025 and closely matches Emerald. That is 1.1 approvals per 1,000 residents of that area, a lighter pipeline than 85% of Queensland statistical areas. The busiest year for approvals since 2020 was 2021, with 34, and the quietest was 2024, with 4.
Population trend
From 2020 to 2025, the Emerald statistical area expanded its population by 6.5%, against 9.7% for Queensland as a whole. The median Queensland statistical area grew 6.3% over the same 5 years, 0.2 points slower than this one. It ranks at the 52nd percentile of Queensland statistical areas for population growth over the period. Growth was strongest in the year to 2023 (2%) and weakest in the year to 2021 (0.3%).
Against its neighbours
The sharpest contrast among the suburbs profiled in the region is Norman Gardens, where the owner-occupied share is 70.9% compared with 55.3% here. Gracemere matches Emerald on the median age, at 33. Andergrove sits 290km away, with a median household income of $100,100 against $124,600 here.
Location
Demographics
ABS Data by Region to 2025, on ABS Census 2021 suburb baselineHousehold Mix Census 2021
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Reading this report
Every figure in the Emerald data table is dated at its source. Supply and population change cover the Emerald statistical area, whose boundary differs from Emerald's, and our guide to reading a suburb report explains how our buyers agents weigh them.
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This report is market intelligence prepared by Chase Wealth Australia for general information only. Figures are statistical estimates for the suburb, not valuations of any individual property, and do not constitute financial or credit advice. Consider your circumstances and seek professional advice before acting. Demographic figures are sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census 2021 (licensed CC BY 4.0) where available.